Introduction: This week we finish both Daniel’s final vision and the
book of Daniel. Are you ready for Jesus to return and bring an end to
sin and death? This last chapter not only talks about the end of sin,
it gives us additional information on what we have previously been
told about the vision. Let’s jump into our study of the Bible and see
if we can learn more!
- The Time of the End
- Read Daniel 12:1. Does it seem to you that there is a
tension in this first verse? We have Michael, “who
protects your people” and an unprecedented “time of
distress.” What is your understanding of those two
statements? (Rather than tension, it appears that Michael
is coming at just the right time to help us.) - What kind of help does Michael bring? (God’s people
are delivered. God’s people are described as
“everyone whose name is found written in the book.”) - What book is this? (Read Revelation 7:13-14 and
Revelation 3:5. This is the book of life. Those
listed in it are those who are saved by faith
in Jesus.) - Notice that Revelation 7:13-14 says that these
have come out of the “great tribulation.” Is
that a familiar topic? (It sounds exactly like
what we are reading about in Daniel 12:1) - Look again at the first part of Daniel 12:1. It says, “At
that time.” What time is this? (Read Daniel 11:40. This is
the “time of the end” reference that we last considered.
I’m not sure how long the time of the end extends, but we
have the kings of the North and South in a huge battle.
This confirms in my mind that we are not now talking about
the generals that followed Alexander the Great.) - Read Daniel 12:2. What does this tell us about the state
of the dead? (It says death is like a “sleep.” It would be
odd to have a spirit that is conscious in heaven and at
the same time refer to the dead as being asleep and then
coming “awake.” This is strong evidence in favor of the
doctrine of “soul sleep” – the belief that the dead are
unconscious rather than conscious in heaven.) - What are the two outcomes that we face in life?
(Everlasting life or shame and everlasting contempt.) - Which do you want?
- Who, only, is given everlasting life? (Only the
righteous are given “everlasting life.” The
lost are given everlasting shame and contempt.
Notice that the lost are not also given
everlasting life.) - Read Daniel 12:3. What is our goal? (Being “wise” means
that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and desire His
guidance for your life. Bringing others to salvation means
that you have applied His Godly wisdom to your life. You
have shared it. It is not merely theoretical knowledge.) - Sealing the Scroll
- Read Daniel 12:4. Should we be able to understand this
vision that we have been studying for the past two weeks?
(I think our understanding of the early parts of the
vision are pretty clear. However, the further along in the
vision we progress the more unclear the understanding is
to me. This suggests that some of the vision remains
sealed and not open to understanding until “the time of
the end.”) - When is the time of the end? (Look again at Daniel
11:40. We previously discussed its connection to
Daniel 12:1. Daniel 11:40 does not seem to be
theoretical or spiritual. It is very detailed about
the nature of the weapons used. I suggested last week
that the involvement of the United States in the
Middle East is one possible interpretation. If that
is the case, then the “time of the end” is at least
now.) - If the “time of the end” is now, why is it that we
have so much dispute over what Daniel 11 and 12 mean?
(One answer is that the “unsealing” is progressive.
As we see these events unfold we say, “Now I
understand.”) - Read Daniel 12:5-6. How many “people” do we have here,
aside from Daniel? (Daniel sees two “others” standing on
opposite sides of the river. In addition, there is a “man
clothed in linen” who stands above the water between
them.) - Who are these people? (They seem to be angels. The
description of the “man” above the river sounds like
the person referenced in Daniel 10:5. He is even in
the same place ( Daniel 10:4). The subsequent
discussion in Daniel 10:13 leads me to believe that
this is again Gabriel.) - Notice the question asked of the man above the river:
“How long … before these … things are fulfilled?”
What things? (This must refer to the events leading
up to the resurrection. I’ve consulted other
translations and the question seems to be “When will
the resurrection take place?”) - Read Daniel 12:7. Notice that this is the same time period
mentioned in Daniel 7:25. Recall that we previously
determined that this is 3.5 years (or 42 months or 1,260
days). If these are prophetic days, then this means 1,260
years. Is that the time for the end of the world? (No.
Gabriel says that this is when the “power of the holy
people has been finally broken.” That hardly sounds like
the end of the world. Instead, when you compare Daniel
7:25 it tells us that the “holy people” will be “delivered
into [the] hands” of the little horn for that period of
time. That event sounds more like the holy people being
defeated.) - Why does Gabriel swear that this is true? What are we
to understand from this? (He is telling us that this
is absolutely accurate.) - Read Daniel 12:8-9. Are you feeling like Daniel at this
point? If Gabriel is swearing that this is true, why isn’t
he more concerned that Daniel does not understand?
(Gabriel says that understanding will be in the future.) - Do you think that the 1,260 years is the full answer
to the timing of the end? (I do not believe that
Gabriel has given the full answer about the end of
the world. He has simply discussed part of the total
time frame.) - Read Daniel 12:10. Is our lack of understanding due to the
fact that we are “wicked?” - Read Daniel 12:11. What does this tell us about the 1,260
years reaching to the end of the world? (If we have the
same starting date, this makes clear that Gabriel is
giving us partial answers.) - What explanation do you have for this 1,290 years?
(We previously rejected Antiochus Epiphanes as the
“little horn” of Daniel 7. Instead, we decided that
it better fit Papal Rome. If you use 508 A.D. as the
starting point because Clovis, King of France,
converted to the Catholic faith then, the 1,290 days
reaches to 1798, when the Pope was taken prisoner by
French General Berthier. The Pope died in exile.) - Do you think that the two events mentioned in
Daniel 12:11 bracket the 1,290 days or are they
the beginning point of the 1,290 days? (It
seems to me that they are the beginning point.) - Does the King Clovis explanation make sense to
you? (In the abstract, it seems more likely
that the abolition of the daily sacrifice
refers to either the death of Jesus on the
cross or the destruction of the temple in 70
A.D., rather than the conversion of a French
king. However, the King Clovis explanation
seems more likely if you look at Daniel 8:9-11
which has the “Little Horn” taking away the
daily sacrifice. If we accept that the “Little
Horn” of Daniel 7 is the same as in Daniel 8,
that strengthens the King Clovis explanation.) - Read Daniel 12:12. Does the 1,335 days (years) seem to be
Gabriel’s date for the time of the resurrection? - Read Daniel 12:13. Does Gabriel’s advice to Daniel also
apply to us? (Gabriel tells Daniel that he will die and
God will fulfill what He has promised. I think that is a
great promise for us.) - Friend, perhaps those who are more “wise” than I am are
clear on Daniel 11 and 12. For me, not everything has been
“unsealed.” I’m waiting, trusting, and keeping my eyes
open. What the book of Daniel very clearly teaches us is
that God is in control. Will you accept Him and trust Him
today? - Next week: We start a new series on how to interpret the Bible.
